Kelowna residents had their chance to become Paralympic athletes on Saturday.
The participants in the “Paralympic Search” were tested in several skill tests to see whether they had what it takes to be a Paralympic athlete.
The aim of the event is to discover athletes with high performance potential and to bring sports opportunities closer to people with disabilities.
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“We’re looking for future Paralympians,” said Robert Shaw, Canada’s top-ranked wheelchair tennis player. “We give people the opportunity to explore their skills by trying a variety of different sports that are available to them in the community.”
While the goal is to find a Paralympic athlete for Team Canada, the event is also a great opportunity for Kelowna residents to try something new.
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“The event is really well organized and gives people who may not have the opportunity to try this equipment this,” said BC Wheelchair Sports’ Scott James.
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The event was attended by about 25 participants, whose disabilities ranged from blindness to paraplegia.
The event had a special guest, Robert Shaw, who is currently the ninth ranked wheelchair tennis player in the world.
“It’s a really cool event and I’m really honored for the role I’m going to play,” said Shaw, who defeated USA’s David Wagner to win the gold medal match at last summer’s Parapan American Games .
“This is a great opportunity for people with a disability who want to get into the sport to explore different options and get an idea of a sport they could be passionate about.”
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Shaw was injured in a diving accident at the age of 21 and was partially paralyzed from the neck down. After his accident, he took up wheelchair tennis.
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Before his accident, tennis was Shaw’s main sport.
“A Paralympian doesn’t happen overnight,” Shaw said. “Sport offers various opportunities from leisure to international level. Time management is becoming increasingly important at the elite level. As a teenager you have to balance sport and school, as an adult maybe sport, work and family.”
While Shaw is one of the best in the world at wheelchair tennis, he is also pursuing a PhD in interdisciplinary studies at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna.
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